The latest Top 10 Most Challenged Books list from the American Library Association shows ongoing censorship of books with LGBTQIA+ characters and themes and that discuss race, racism, inclusivity, equity, and social justice—while a drop in censorship numbers from the previous year actually hides troubling trends.
The American Library Association has just announced its 2025 Rainbow Book List of over 175 librarian-approved titles “celebrating LGBTQIA+ youth and families.” Let’s look more closely at these books for children and teens, why they matter, and some exclusive charts showing trends over the years.
Numerous LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books were honored at today’s annual American Library Association Youth Media Awards, winning not only in LGBTQ categories, but also in several others—proving once again that those who wish to ban or restrict them are keeping kids from some of the best children’s literature around.
All of the children’s books in my Database of LGBTQ Family Books have been effectively banned by sweeping censorship laws in some states. Many titles have also been banned by name. I’m therefore marking Banned Books Week with a look at the scope and impact of book bans—and what we can do to stop them.
Seven of the American Library Association’s annual list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books were challenged for their LGBTQIA+ content—and Gender Queer, a memoir about growing up nonbinary and asexual, topped the list for the third year in a row.
More than 100 books made the American Library Association’s annual Rainbow Book List of librarian-approved titles with “significant and authentic” LGBTQIA+ content for children and teens. Let’s look more closely at the books, why they matter, and at some exclusive charts showing trends over the years.
A book about a gender nonconforming Mexican revolutionary has received a prestigious Caldecott Honor, while other LGBTQ-inclusive children’s and young adult books also won recognition at the American Library Association’s annual Youth Media Awards.
A memoir about growing up nonbinary and asexual has once again topped the American Library Association’s annual list of the most challenged books—and new data shows that in a year of record censorship attempts, the “vast majority” targeted books with LGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC characters.
The 2023 Rainbow Book List from the American Library Association includes a record 190+ librarian-approved books with“significant and authentic” LGBTQIA+ content for children and teens. Let’s look at the books—and at some charts showing how such books have increased over the years!
LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books not only offer needed representation, but can also take their place with some of the best children’s literature around, bar none, as this year’s Youth Media Awards once again proved.
